Interior Lighting, Simplified

Arguably one of the most important aspects of an interior space, lighting should be part of the design process from the very beginning.  As a design professional, I know that lighting can make or break a space because both function and form fail without proper lighting.  And like colour (which doesn't exist without light), the quality of light also has both psychological AND physiological effects on human beings.  For these reasons alone, I often tell clients never to go cheap on lighting - with some exceptions which I will address later on.

As you might already know, besides choosing light fixtures to reflect both a space's function and overall look, it's almost mandatory nowadays to incorporate energy efficiency into the lighting scheme.

Pick Colour Like A Pro

Picking colours...those two words that can make one shudder!

I can't begin to tell you how many people I've come across who are intimidated when it comes to picking colours for their home or office.

I truly believe that there are really no rules when it comes to colour. In spite of some scary colour combinations many of us have experienced at one time or another, I'm of the opinion that there is really no 'right or wrong'. Colour selection is a personal thing and people should be able to surround themselves with the hues they love.  Many try to do just that, but the end result may often be nothing like what they initially envisioned. 

The key to pulling together a cohesive colour scheme in an interior is understanding the logistics of the decorating process.

Layout Matters: A Small Space

Space, space, space...is always at a premium when you live in a small high-rise unit.  I was always grateful to find incredible tips and ideas out there in the blogosphere and so this is my contribution to the world of Apartment Therapy worshippers!

You see, before we’d entered family life and the world of the detached single-family dwelling, we were the proud owners of a small condominium unit measuring in at just over 1000 square feet. While the overall layout was perfectly acceptable, there were a few things that simply didn't work.

Floor Plan - Before

The first challenge was where to place the 50" TV.

Opening Up Spaces Without Demolishing Walls

Have you ever been to a space and thought to yourself, "this place would be perfect if we could just knock down that wall!"  Well, as it turns out, that's a big "if" once you investigate what this task entails.  

I have found myself in this situation in the past when I've wanted to make changes to our existing home or when we've been shopping for a new home.  As I learned long ago from Joel, the location of a wall is determined by a number of factors in addition to defining the space.